AMS Transvaginal Mesh Victim Gives Husband Permission to Pay for Sex

Newark, NJDiane had been complaining to her doctor about AMS transvaginal mesh problems ever since she had the AMS surgery five years ago. He told her that nothing was wrong, that it was all in her head. Diane was almost convinced, until she saw the PBS Need to Know episode on transvaginal mesh last year.

In that PBS episode, Linda Gross is interviewed. The former nurse was awarded over $3 million to settle her transvaginal mesh lawsuit. “I couldn’t believe it. This woman had the same symptoms as me, but she went through so many surgeries in an attempt to remove the mesh,” says Diane (not her real name). “I had no idea that removing this stuff would be so difficult, when it was such a simple procedure to put in. Now I am worried sick that I might have to face multiple surgeries.”

In the Need to Know episode, Linda Gross recounts how she was diagnosed several years ago with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), “a condition hundreds of thousands of women face.” Diane says she would rather live with POP than the transvaginal mesh.

After Diane saw the PBS show, she and her husband tried to call American Medical Systems, but they never got through to a human being. Next up, they filed a claim against the mesh manufacturer. Diane is claiming permanent pain and suffering, and her husband is claiming loss of consortium - they haven’t had sexual intercourse since the mesh was implanted.

“If this TVM goes badly and you’re having sexual relations, the mesh could be life-changing, for your whole family,” says Diane. “I didn’t realize how important our sexual relationship was until it was gone. I don’t blame my husband if he has to see someone for sex; he is only 40 years old. Should he go without sex for the rest of his life? If he has to pay for it, then that would be a whole lot better than leaving me and the kids.”

As of November 2014, the AMS manufacturer has agreed to pay almost $1.3 billion to settle product liability transvaginal mesh lawsuits. Endo says it has settled most of the US lawsuits against its Perigee, Apogee and Elevate transvaginal mesh implants. For women like Diane, no amount of money will guarantee that her family will stay together.